Masterton: Friday June
20Kapiti: Saturday June 21Wellington: Sunday June
22

Wellington mezzo soprano Bianca Andrew has attracted
glowing reviews and a wide following for her ravishing voice
and charismatic stage presence. Orchestra Wellington
audiences will be eagerly awaiting her June performances of
Mahler’s Kindertotenlieder before her singing career takes
her to London’s Guildhall.

Between 1901 and 1904, Mahler
set five poems written by the German poet Rückert in
response to the death of two of his children. Mahler gave
these poems some of his most beautiful music, filled with
tenderness and longing. He weaves in a theme from one of his
symphonic movements titled “What Love tells me” – an
affirmation of love that endures beyond death.

Mozart’s
penultimate symphony in G minor is widely regarded as one of
the greatest ever written. Right from its very opening bars
with their restless, ever-moving quavers, this symphony is
driven by a perfect balance of passion and intellect.

The
concert opens with one of Haydn’s “Paris” symphonies,
named “the Bear”. Before the witty references to
bag-pipes and bear dancers in the last movement, the
symphony has plenty of other delights, with its constant
inventiveness and graceful phrases.

About
Bianca AndrewBorn in Wellington, Bianca Andrew is
considered one of New Zealand’s most promising young
singers, and was a Freemasons Dame Malvina Major Emerging
Artist with NZ Opera in 2012/13. She graduated from the New
Zealand School of Music (NZSM) with a Bachelor of Music and
Postgraduate Diploma of Music, under the tutelage of
Margaret Medlyn. She has a particular interest in French
music, and as part of her university studies travelled to
Paris to research the life and vocal music of Francis
Poulenc.

Bianca is a grateful recipient of several
scholarships, including the Victoria University Les and
Sonia Andrews Cultural Foundation Scholarship, the Moyra
Todd Memorial Scholarship, the Rotary Club of Wellington
Music Prize for classical music, and the Dame Malvina Major
Foundation High Achiever's Award in 2010, 2011 and 2013. She
has also been generously supported by the
Lankhuyzen/Whetu-Kairangi Masonic Trust in 2012 and
2013.

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